Don't despair just yet! A TD thinks Enda Kenny appeared in playboy magazine

That TD was on the Frontline last night and it's attitudes like his which make me want Dublin to declare independence from the rest of Ireland, withdraw our subsidies from the provinces and devote those resources to getting what we really need like a proper public transport system. Eamon Ryan was quite right in saying that the policy of encouraging dispersed one-off housing has done serious harm to rural Ireland by making it either expensive or impossible to provide adequate services to people living outside major urban centres and by eroding the quality of life of those living in mainly rural areas. The idea that South Tipperary councillors would let their towns like Cashel, Fethard and Clonmel decline while expecting their people to travel to Cork, Limerick and Waterford for work is ridiculous but sadly to be expected of local government in this country. Hopefully the reforms published today by the government will have the effect of curbing this.

Improved powers for councillors in some areas, but reduced in others like planning which we probably should considering Mahon.

Revision to Cork city's boundaries made possible.

Areas of concern would be;

Merger of Waterford city and county. Considering Waterford's status as possibly Ireland's oldest city and most deprived, I would be unsure if a merger with its county is the best way forward for Waterford. It already is barely inside the front door in terms of government priority and it could lose out still more if it wasn't seen as a city anymore. Moreover, I doubt Phil Hogan's motives wrt Waterford. As a Kilkenny native he might see this as an opportunity to dilute the importance of Waterford as the hub of the southeast to the advantage of Kilkenny town.

Merger of Limerick city and county. This is less of an issue and could very well be the tonic Limerick needs to be the Irish city of the '10's in the same way Galway's ascent to city status in the '80's drove it on in the '90's. However it still needs to be managed properly and again, the perception must not become widespread that it isn't a city anymore and therefore not worthy of especial attention.

Either way, a bold, interesting approach taken to Irish public policy which is worthy of much further debate and analysis.

Overall I'm pleasantly surprised with the reform document, it's actually well thought out! I'm also wary about Limerick and Waterford cities and counties being merged, but also that they consider to ignore the fact that Dublin is split among four local authorities when it should be just one.

I'm very impressed with the idea of 'municipal districts' within counties, especially as the districts are the constituencies for the county councils. Very similar style of local government to mainland Europe, with proper layers (the town councils were a total joke).

Also great to see the property tax will be used by local authorities, rather than them having to depend on handouts from central government.

Controversial. The praise for Enda Kenny from abroad goes on unabated...

Quote:

24.10.2012VDZ awards Enda Kenny the „Golden Victoria European of the Year“

The German Magazine Publishers Association (VDZ) with its President Prof. Dr. Hubert Burda is pleased to announce that it is awarding the “Golden Victoria European of the Year 2012” to the Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny. The award will be given to Prime Minister Kenny at the German Publishers` Night in Berlin on 8 November. It recognises Kenny’s strong contribution to Europe and commitment to European ideals both as Prime Minister and throughout his many years in public life.

The VDZ commented, “This award acknowledges the achievements not only of Enda Kenny but Ireland and the Irish people. Ireland’s determined response to the current economic and financial crisis has been widely respected, particularly in view of the genuine hardship being experienced by many Irish people. This award, however, also acknowledges the unique contribution which Ireland has made to the European project since its accession in 1973. Despite being located at the Western edge of continent, the green island has always been at the heart of Europe”.

In 2013 Ireland will assume the EU Presidency for the seventh time. Fittingly 2013 also marks forty years of successful Irish membership of the Union. Throughout those forty years Ireland has often played a key role in the development of Europe, including in 1990 when it presided over the European Council which endorsed the reunification of Germany. The VDZ added, “Ireland’s advancement over the last four decades of its membership offers a powerful illustration of the value of EU membership. In these difficult times, Europe benefits from the open, outward looking character of the Irish State and people and from the calibre of its Prime Minister, Enda Kenny”.

Three other individuals will be honoured for their services and contributions at the Publishers` Night 2012, the most important annual event for German media. Previous recipients of the “European of the Year” award have been Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (2011) and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso (2010).

Odlum....I honestly don't know why this would be "controversial"! Granted the usual shrill against everyuthing brigade will scream and moan, but, perhaps the Germans are simply applauding a Government taking tougher financial decisions then any post WWII German Government has had to. Of course, that is not popular at home with the type of people that took easy money during the boom without questioning where it came from or how it would be paid back. Those viewing from abroad clearly have perspective.

To be perfectly frank, I don't really give a fiddlers fart what plaudits are thrown at Enda, whats more important is that this will generate positive publicity for Ireland in a Country which will play a big part in our collective future!

Haven't been online for a while, but can I add to the above comments that I was also relatively plesently surprised at how comprehensive the Local Government proposals are. This was one area that I was certain would be brushed aside due to partisan lobbying!

Maybe this is one of the benefits of unpopular politicians.....they realise they are hated so just get on with the job knowing that they are wasteing their time looking for good publicity!

Positive publicity in Germany is a good thing for our medium-term geopolitical and economic future however what's more important is that we get German agreement to alleviate the burden of banking debt for Ireland. German politicians, opinion-makers and people need to understand that for Ireland to succeed in exiting the EU/ECB/IMF programme we need a deal on banking liabilities such that our overall debt level is reduced. Germany needs us to succeed to bolster their case for putting further pressure on the likes of Greece and Portugal to fulfil the terms of their loans. Without a clear success story like Ireland to point to, German exhortations for discipline and probity will ring hollow in Iberia and the Peloponnese.

We need member state agreement on the ESM and ECB agreement on the promissory notes. Altogether a tough task. The fact the Taoiseach seems to be highly regarded abroad only helps the case. The IMF was the latest on the bandwagon today calling on agreement for the ESM to inject €25bn in Irish banks - effectively removing 15% from GDP debt - and that's before the promissory notes are dealt with!

So I think it's positive but of course those hit hard by austerity would disagree!

It's also a political fact that leaders are often more highly thought of abroad than at home.

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Just a quick reminder of the need to get out to Vote in the Childrens Referendum on Saturday. I know we spoke about this ages ago and the consensus was that it would pass easily as nodoby in their right mind would vote against it.........

Well, cast your minds back to the Judicial Enquiries Referendum. Although the credit for it being defeated goes to the 7 former Attorney Generals, the actualy damage was done in the last days of the campaign by an extremely underhanded campaign by members of the legal profession. Basically, every panel discussion and phone-in show was flooded by "ordinary citizens" claiming that if it passed then the Government would be able to break into your bedroom at will and send in the Gardai to arrest anybody who disagrees with them. Sounds crazy but it worked.

Much the same thing is happening again....last night on the Front Line John Waters actually claimed that if this passes then Social Workers will cease Children from any family thats having financial difficulties and sell them overseas!!! I kid you not!!! Furthermore, Dana was on the News saying its all an EU/UN conspiracy. Many No campaigners are now focusing on extraneous issues such as the Fiscal Treaty to try to get this defeated.

The Supreme Court has found that the Referendum booklet is biased towards the yes side!! I wonder will this affect the Referendum?!

As an aside, we are now seeing the Law of unintended consequences...as a result of the McKenna Judgement equal weight must be given to both sides in a Referendum. So for example, if the Government proposed a Referendum ascerting that the World is round, equal coverage and importance would have to be confered on any moron who wanted to claim the World is flat!!

Moreover, when you consider this decision, the An Bord Pleanala Decision and the several others, it does beg the question if there is some sort of clandestine opposition by people appointed by the last discredited Government.

Sinn Féin will be furious. Got to get rid of Grizzly and the old guard if they are to make progress I think.

Interesting Odlum. Labour are in a serious pickle now. FF up six. That could indicate some of their more traditional voters coming back after they punished them at the last election. Whatever people say or think, FF have a serious grass root network of members. They seem to playing a rather good political line at the moment, that being that they are not objecting against everything the Govt does. SF on the other hand will always be that way. Labour seem to taking the brunt of the unpopularity of the Govt.

How are Fianna Fáil at 22%? Are Irish people that short-sighted? They ruined this country, again, within the last four years and handed us over to an EU/IMF programme which condemns us to years of austerity and lean growth prospects. Add to that their congenital crookery and lack of standards and they are a fundamentally flawed party. Labour should have 22% support because, for all their failings, at least they are not actively corrupt and not responsible for the generational wrecking of Ireland's economy. If people vote Fianna Fáil back into power then we deserve every bit of pain sent our way by the troika.

How are Fianna Fáil at 22%? Are Irish people that short-sighted? They ruined this country, again, within the last four years and handed us over to an EU/IMF programme which condemns us to years of austerity and lean growth prospects. Add to that their congenital crookery and lack of standards and they are a fundamentally flawed party. Labour should have 22% support because, for all their failings, at least they are not actively corrupt and not responsible for the generational wrecking of Ireland's economy. If people vote Fianna Fáil back into power then we deserve every bit of pain sent our way by the troika.

Completely agree. I just can't understand how this is happening. It hasn't been that long since they were kicked out and already the comeback has started.